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Boston-area judge charged with helping undocumented immigrant escape courthouse to elude ICE

Chomsky

Chomsky

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A Massachusetts judge conspired with a court officer to help a twice-deported undocumented immigrant slip out a back exit of a courthouse and elude arrest by immigration authorities, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.

Judge Shelley Joseph and court officer Wesley MacGregor were hit with federal obstruction of justice charges for allegedly aiding the defendant, who was arrested in March 2018 on charges of drug possession and being a fugitive from justice, according to an indictment by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston.
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Source:

(NBC News) Boston-area judge charged with helping undocumented immigrant escape courthouse to elude ICE

This is a fast breaking story, only several hours old. So, details are still coming-out. I also suspect it is going to be a hotly debated story, given the circumstances.

As for me, being firstly a big-picture guy, I have concerns of Trump attempting to put fear into the judiciary, injecting his authoritarianism into the bench. But the law & order side of me realizes there may be instances where judges act illegally or can obstruct justice, and need to be dealt with.

I'm not concluding that legal obstruction necessarily took place here, and even if it did I would rather it initially be examined in a judicial review situation, rather than initially by a law-enforcement warrant. I have strong concerns about protecting the independence of the judiciary.

So at this point, I'm leaning against this action today. But I am being halted in my feelings, until I can find-out more. I just don't understand why this was not handled administratively firstly, where it could further be handed-off for criminal prosecution if warranted.
 
Chomsky said:
Source:

(NBC News) Boston-area judge charged with helping undocumented immigrant escape courthouse to elude ICE

This is a fast breaking story, only several hours old. So, details are still coming-out. I also suspect it is going to be a hotly debated story, given the circumstances.

As for me, being firstly a big-picture guy, I have concerns of Trump attempting to put fear into the judiciary, injecting his authoritarianism into the bench. But the law & order side of me realizes there may be instances where judges act illegally or can obstruct justice, and need to be dealt with.

I'm not concluding that legal obstruction necessarily took place here, and even if it did I would rather it initially be examined in a judicial review situation, rather than initially by a law-enforcement warrant. I have strong concerns about protecting the independence of the judiciary.

So at this point, I'm leaning against this action today. But I am being halted in my feelings, until I can find-out more. I just don't understand why this was not handled administratively firstly, where it could further be handed-off for criminal prosecution if warranted.
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That is one damned confusing story. The prosecutor even agreed it was a case of mistaken identity. How did he "slip out" of the courtroom, and when did the judge have time to "concoct" the plan with everyone in the room? It says the recorder was off for less than 1 minute. Even if it was concocted then, the prosecutor was in the sidebar - how did he miss it?

Odd story to say the least. Let's see what the facts turn up.

Any idea what a rear sally port entrance is?
 
A judge helped a criminal avoid being detained by a law enforcement agency. That's a crime. Plain and simple.
 
tres borrachos said:
That is one damned confusing story. The prosecutor even agreed it was a case of mistaken identity. How did he "slip out" of the courtroom, and when did the judge have time to "concoct" the plan with everyone in the room? It says the recorder was off for less than 1 minute. Even if it was concocted then, the prosecutor was in the sidebar - how did he miss it?

Odd story to say the least. Let's see what the facts turn up.

Any idea what a rear sally port entrance is?
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It's for sneaking Sally through the alley, of course; silly girl! :2razz:


 
Roadvirus said:
A judge helped a criminal avoid being detained by a law enforcement agency. That's a crime. Plain and simple.
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Let somebody else be the judge of that...
 
tres borrachos said:
That is one damned confusing story. The prosecutor even agreed it was a case of mistaken identity. How did he "slip out" of the courtroom, and when did the judge have time to "concoct" the plan with everyone in the room? It says the recorder was off for less than 1 minute. Even if it was concocted then, the prosecutor was in the sidebar - how did he miss it?

Odd story to say the least. Let's see what the facts turn up.

Any idea what a rear sally port entrance is?
Click to expand...


Sally Port | Definition of Sally Port by Merriam-Webster
 
tres borrachos said:
That is one damned confusing story. The prosecutor even agreed it was a case of mistaken identity. How did he "slip out" of the courtroom, and when did the judge have time to "concoct" the plan with everyone in the room? It says the recorder was off for less than 1 minute. Even if it was concocted then, the prosecutor was in the sidebar - how did he miss it?

Odd story to say the least. Let's see what the facts turn up.

Any idea what a rear sally port entrance is?
Click to expand...

A sally port is kind of like a garage, normally with a reinforced garage door on each end, used in places where suspects / criminals are detained. The police vehicle drives in one end, closes the doors, then loads or unloads the passenger directly into the detention area. It protects the prisioner, and discourages attempts to make a break for it in a driveway.

The person could not have accessed the sally port, or had it opened, without help.

The mistaken identity part sounds like a CYA statement for the recording on the original charge. As far as the ICE warrant... it's really not the business of the judge, prosecutor, or defense attourney. They didn't know. Their job is to turn over the suspect and allow ICE and the immigration court to determine that.
 
Chomsky said:
Source:

(NBC News) Boston-area judge charged with helping undocumented immigrant escape courthouse to elude ICE

This is a fast breaking story, only several hours old. So, details are still coming-out. I also suspect it is going to be a hotly debated story, given the circumstances.

As for me, being firstly a big-picture guy, I have concerns of Trump attempting to put fear into the judiciary, injecting his authoritarianism into the bench. But the law & order side of me realizes there may be instances where judges act illegally or can obstruct justice, and need to be dealt with.

I'm not concluding that legal obstruction necessarily took place here, and even if it did I would rather it initially be examined in a judicial review situation, rather than initially by a law-enforcement warrant. I have strong concerns about protecting the independence of the judiciary.

So at this point, I'm leaning against this action today. But I am being halted in my feelings, until I can find-out more. I just don't understand why this was not handled administratively firstly, where it could further be handed-off for criminal prosecution if warranted.
Click to expand...

So much for law and order. Eh?
 
tres borrachos said:
That is one damned confusing story. The prosecutor even agreed it was a case of mistaken identity. How did he "slip out" of the courtroom, and when did the judge have time to "concoct" the plan with everyone in the room? It says the recorder was off for less than 1 minute. Even if it was concocted then, the prosecutor was in the sidebar - how did he miss it?

Odd story to say the least. Let's see what the facts turn up.

Any idea what a rear sally port entrance is?
Click to expand...

sal·ly port
noun
a small exit point in a fortification for the passage of troops when making a sally.
 
dcsports said:
A sally port is kind of like a garage, normally with a reinforced garage door on each end, used in places where suspects / criminals are detained. The police vehicle drives in one end, closes the doors, then loads or unloads the passenger directly into the detention area. It protects the prisioner, and discourages attempts to make a break for it in a driveway.

The person could not have accessed the sally port, or had it opened, without help.

The mistaken identity part sounds like a CYA statement for the recording on the original charge. As far as the ICE warrant... it's really not the business of the judge, prosecutor, or defense attourney. They didn't know. Their job is to turn over the suspect and allow ICE and the immigration court to determine that.
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You mean the ICE “warrants” that are printed out by the ream and aren’t signed by a judge. I’d wipe my ass with it and tell the ICE stooge to have a nice day.
 
Chomsky said:
Source:

(NBC News) Boston-area judge charged with helping undocumented immigrant escape courthouse to elude ICE

This is a fast breaking story, only several hours old. So, details are still coming-out. I also suspect it is going to be a hotly debated story, given the circumstances.

As for me, being firstly a big-picture guy, I have concerns of Trump attempting to put fear into the judiciary, injecting his authoritarianism into the bench. But the law & order side of me realizes there may be instances where judges act illegally or can obstruct justice, and need to be dealt with.

I'm not concluding that legal obstruction necessarily took place here, and even if it did I would rather it initially be examined in a judicial review situation, rather than initially by a law-enforcement warrant. I have strong concerns about protecting the independence of the judiciary.

So at this point, I'm leaning against this action today. But I am being halted in my feelings, until I can find-out more. I just don't understand why this was not handled administratively firstly, where it could further be handed-off for criminal prosecution if warranted.
Click to expand...

The only downside here is that it's not a federal judge being prosecuted.
 
I read a book once about a guy who was executed for helping the poor, persecuted and downtrodden.
 
Judges aren't above the law?

Who knew?
 
Chomsky said:
Source:
(NBC News) Boston-area judge charged with helping undocumented immigrant escape courthouse to elude ICE
This is a fast breaking story, only several hours old. So, details are still coming-out. I also suspect it is going to be a hotly debated story, given the circumstances.
As for me, being firstly a big-picture guy, I have concerns of Trump attempting to put fear into the judiciary, injecting his authoritarianism into the bench. But the law & order side of me realizes there may be instances where judges act illegally or can obstruct justice, and need to be dealt with.
I'm not concluding that legal obstruction necessarily took place here, and even if it did I would rather it initially be examined in a judicial review situation, rather than initially by a law-enforcement warrant. I have strong concerns about protecting the independence of the judiciary.
So at this point, I'm leaning against this action today. But I am being halted in my feelings, until I can find-out more. I just don't understand why this was not handled administratively firstly, where it could further be handed-off for criminal prosecution if warranted.
Click to expand...


I had read this story on Fox earlier on and didn't recall anything in it about "mistaken identity" (post #2), so I read the NBC link and found that NBC omitted the info that the illegal alien went under several aliases. ICE will have had those names he went under and I believe his lawyer used it to the guy's advantage ... picking one of the names ICE had and telling the judge: "Look, that's not my client's name ... case of mistaken identity."

Fox also had a little more info on that prime specimen of an "immigrant":

"... Medina-Perez’s freedom was short-lived. He was arrested a month later after the court hearing and again let go, this time by an immigration judge who freed him on bond, the Boston Globe reported. That case is currently pending, officials said. The 38-year-old native of the Dominican Republic had been previously deported in January 2003 and June 2007, ICE said. His real name is Oscar Manuel Peguero, although he goes by several aliases."

Massachusetts judge who helped illegal immigrant escape ICE arrest indicted, federal authorities say | Fox News


It's obvious ... our law-and-order system is a joke when you have judges like these.
 
Chomsky said:
Source:

(NBC News) Boston-area judge charged with helping undocumented immigrant escape courthouse to elude ICE

This is a fast breaking story, only several hours old. So, details are still coming-out. I also suspect it is going to be a hotly debated story, given the circumstances.

As for me, being firstly a big-picture guy, I have concerns of Trump attempting to put fear into the judiciary, injecting his authoritarianism into the bench. But the law & order side of me realizes there may be instances where judges act illegally or can obstruct justice, and need to be dealt with.

I'm not concluding that legal obstruction necessarily took place here, and even if it did I would rather it initially be examined in a judicial review situation, rather than initially by a law-enforcement warrant. I have strong concerns about protecting the independence of the judiciary.

So at this point, I'm leaning against this action today. But I am being halted in my feelings, until I can find-out more. I just don't understand why this was not handled administratively firstly, where it could further be handed-off for criminal prosecution if warranted.
Click to expand...
What your talking about isnt an administrative rule violation. It is a crime. Judges are not above the law.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Chomsky said:
I'm not sure what you're getting at, here.
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Federal judges are evil and undermine Trump's authority, obviously. If it was a federal judge then Trump has a reason to start a glorious purge of federal judges.
 
If this judge is found guilty of her alleged crimes I hope she receives the most severe punishment possible.
 
Carjosse said:
Federal judges are evil and undermine Trump's authority, obviously. If it was a federal judge then Trump has a reason to start a glorious purge of federal judges.
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Ah, I see. Trump might be able to remove a federal judge, without showing cause.
 
Barnacle said:
I had read this story on Fox earlier on and didn't recall anything in it about "mistaken identity" (post #2), so I read the NBC link and found that NBC omitted the info that the illegal alien went under several aliases. ICE will have had those names he went under and I believe his lawyer used it to the guy's advantage ... picking one of the names ICE had and telling the judge: "Look, that's not my client's name ... case of mistaken identity."

Fox also had a little more info on that prime specimen of an "immigrant":

"... Medina-Perez’s freedom was short-lived. He was arrested a month later after the court hearing and again let go, this time by an immigration judge who freed him on bond, the Boston Globe reported. That case is currently pending, officials said. The 38-year-old native of the Dominican Republic had been previously deported in January 2003 and June 2007, ICE said. His real name is Oscar Manuel Peguero, although he goes by several aliases."

Massachusetts judge who helped illegal immigrant escape ICE arrest indicted, federal authorities say | Fox News


It's obvious ... our law-and-order system is a joke when you have judges like these.
Click to expand...
Thanks for adding additional insight.
 
trouble13 said:
What your talking about isnt an administrative rule violation. It is a crime. Judges are not above the law.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
It very well may be a crime, or it may be nothing.

But in order to maintain the integrity and independence of the court, I'd first like to see some form of inquiry, before busting into court with a warrant, as long as the situation is not one of immediate physical danger.
 
Chomsky said:
It very well may be a crime, or it may be nothing.

But in order to maintain the integrity and independence of the court, I'd first like to see some form of inquiry, before busting into court with a warrant, as long as the situation is not one of immediate physical danger.
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How is offering someone associated with the court special privileges not offered to someone in a different profession managing integrity? If Bob the trashman did this he would have have his business, home or whatever busted into with a warrant. A judge shouldn't receive special privileges
 
Chillfolks said:
How is offering someone associated with the court special privileges not offered to someone in a different profession managing integrity? If Bob the trashman did this he would have have his business, home or whatever busted into with a warrant. A judge shouldn't receive special privileges
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Because of his position on the bench, I have no problem with there first being an investigation, unless a crime is in progress requiring immediate action. It's similar for the President, in case you haven't noticed. Hopefully, it's the same for SCOTUS judges.

The reason being, some are in a position where law enforcement can be used as a political tool against them to influence the events these individuals are empowered to resolve, including clouding the public faith in the individual executing his duties in his position.
 
Chomsky said:
It very well may be a crime, or it may be nothing.

But in order to maintain the integrity and independence of the court, I'd first like to see some form of inquiry, before busting into court with a warrant, as long as the situation is not one of immediate physical danger.
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Considering this is a year later i imagine some type of investigation was done. However if they did it in a way to create a spectacle out of it i share your criticism of that.

What i have contention with you about is suggesting it should of been handled as an administrative matter. I could see your point if this was a dispute over how the judge ruled on something. Thats arguably an sdminstrative matter that perhaps leads to impeachment.

She is being accused of a criminal act. Its on the same level of if she hid a criminal in her home to prevent them from being arrested. Her position and the location are irrelevant. Its the act thst she is being alleged to of done that needs to be addressed.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
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